National parks to give military families a free pass

Today is Armed Forces Day — and the start of the National Park Service’s new program to show appreciation for military personnel. Beginning today, the park service will issue free admission passes for members of the military on active duty and their dependents, valid at all 397 national parks and good for a year from the month obtained.

The pass also provides free entry to scenic areas and preserves managed by the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation. It can be obtained with a current military identification card at staffed entrances to those locations as well as the national parks (click on www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm for details.)

The latter include eight in Hawai‘i, three of which charge entrance fees: Hawai‘i Volcanoes and Haleakalā national parks and Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. “We all owe a debt to those who sacrifice so much to protect our country,” Hawai‘i Volcanoes superintendent Cindy Orlando said in a press release. “We are proud to recognize these brave men and women and hope that a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes or any national park will offer an opportunity to unwind, relax, rejuvenate and just have fun with their families.”

The release notes that America’s national parks and the military have a long history, with the U.S. Cavalry serving as the first park rangers, from the founding of Yellowstone in 1872 until the National Park Service was established 44 years later. “During World War II, many parks were set aside for the training and care of military personnel,” the release notes. “Today, dozens of national parks commemorate military battles and achievements.”

Admission to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will now be free for active-duty military and their dependents who pick up an annual pass. / Photo by Jeanne Cooper